Underground-conduit construction.



M. H. LOUGHRIDGE.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1912.

Patented June 15, 1915.

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,Lou'ofruiot UNITED STATES PjiTENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW IIARKNESS LOUGHRIDGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UNDERGROUND-CONDUIT CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 5, 1912.

1 b [ZZZ whom it may concern it known that I, MATTHEW HAnKnEss a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city otNew York, borough of lvianhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improred Underground-Conduit Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and e ct description.

My invention is in relation to a construction in the combination of conduit with blocks Of molded stone in which the said blocks form a support for the conduit, and substitute for bends, and outlets which 2 made at less cost than from the con- (3... material; also a construction in bends and outiets hat be built up in units to suit reau ments and a means of holding these units in alinement and of sealing the goint where they are brought together.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawii orming a part of this specification, in .JiOlI Figure 1 shows the application of my invention to a juncti on conduit at right angles to the main run of conduit, the conduit being of circul r section and one-half of the cover being removed in the figure. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line AA Fig. 1 in which concrete blocks are used, and shows the particular construction for supporting the end of the conduit and of sealing the blocks where they come together. Figs. 3 and show an outlet of concrete blocks adapted to four runs of conduit in three directions, Fig. 3 being an elevation in half cross-section on line B-B Fig. 4; the latter figure being a plan view with half the cover removed.

My invention comprises a construction of blocks of molded stone split on a line parallel with the longitudinal axis of the conduit. In Figs. 1 and 2 two such blocks are used, indicated by 1 and 1 In Fig. 8 five such blocks are used indicated by 8*, 8", 8, 8 and 8*. The conduit is indicated by 2*, 2*, 2, 2, 2 and 2. As shown in the figures, these blocks are split on the center line of each row of conduit and when assembled the weight of the upper block clamps the conduit firmly in place. They can therefore be placed in position or removed without disturbing electrical conductors in the conduit.

As shown in Fig. 1 the blocks are molded to a diameter that admits the end of the conduit with a snug fit for such a distance Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Serial No. 701,831.

as will firmly support it. Where the conduit is such that the electrical conductors may be drawn into it a ledge is provided equal in thickness to the wall of the conduit as at 7' so that the interior presents a smooth surface with the interior of the conduit. In order that water may not enter between the conduit and the blocks where the former is supported, a space 5 having a larger diameter than the conduit is molded in the blocks. This space entirely envelops the conduit and is filled with sealing compound making a waterproof joint between the surface of the conduit and the blocks. In order to facilitate the filling of this compound in a liquid form'into space 5, an opening 6 is provided in the block above through which it may be poured.

lVhere the two blocks are oined together provision is also made for a joint sealed with compound. This is shown in cross sec tion at 4, Fig. 2 where the protecting rib 3 in the upper block fits into a similar sectional groove 4 in the lower block and the space between these is filled with compound as shown. This compound may be applied before the upper block is placed in position or may be poured after the block is assembled through opening 6 which communicates with the groove at and 5 as shown in Fig. 2. This seal can readily be broken and remade so that electrical conductors in the conduit are readily accessible.

The blocks are held in alinement by their shape fitting onto the conduit, also by the projecting rib 3 fitting into the groove 4 which may be made a snug fit on the edge for this purpose. The surface of the joint between the blocks is sloped downwardly toward the exterior so as to prevent water from entering the interior of the blocks.

Figs. 3 and 4.- are built up of unit blocks and it is apparent that this construction may be designed to suit any size number and arrangements of conduit required.

Where it is desired to increase the depth of the outlet box filler blocks similar to 8 are used to build it up to the desired height, joints similar to those shown in Fig. 2 being used between each block.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have devised a new type of underground construction of superior practical advantage and simplicity, and I wish to have it understood that I do not care to be limited to the details shown and described except in so far as the same are made material by the terms of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A conduit construction having a plurality of Waterproof conduits disposed in superposed groups; junction boxes comprising a plurality of continuous, superposed, separable ring members i'orming the side Wall for each of said junction boxes, said ring members being provided with semi-circular, "ransverse edge recesses for receiving said conduits, and with seini-circular, annular, sealing grooves opening into said recesses, said grooves being in the plane of the Wall in which they are formed, said members having open-ended passages connecting said grooves to form a feeding channel for sealing material, and said members having annular edge grooves communicating With said sealing grooves, for receiving the sealing material delivered thereto by said passages; and a flowing, sealing cement adapted to set, said cement filling said pasflowing, setting cement disposed in said grooves, recesses and pouring passage, ior

forming an unbroken, sealing member resting between said ring members and said conduits.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MATTHEW HARKNESS LOllGllitlllGll.

V i itnesses JAMES MGGREGOR,

W. D. RIGNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gonimissionefo! Eatents,

Washington, D. G. i 

